What is new from the pulpit has
become more important than expositional teaching on what God has written.
Because of this emphasis, many do not know how to identify error, nor have a
clue on what to do about it. Because of this lack of conveying doctrine to the
assembly, we also find people that believe they can be Christian without the
confines of doctrine. They like the moral teaching and higher ethics Jesus
offers, they will emulate Jesus but they do not find it necessary to do it by
the book. Jesus becomes their mentor and helps reinforce their views of what
they think is right in life.

Paul wrote to young Timothy who
was trained in the Jewish Scriptures since his youth. 2 Timothy 4:3-5: “For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to
their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for
themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be
turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions,
do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Paul spoke prophetically bout
that that “time” which should be apparent to all has come. They “will
not endure sound doctrine.” They will NOT put up with those who teach
correctly. Why? Because they have a need to scratch their ears with something
new (like the Greek philosophers on Mars Hill). They intentionally turn from
hearing the truth and appoint teachers that will speak (scratch) to what their
itch (desire) dictates.

Some in the Church that have
been persuaded not to sit under sound Bible teaching that will awaken them. More
pulpit time is devoted to storytelling, jokes and illustrations (stories- fables
and myths) than the exposition of the word. The sheep’s diet consists more of
entertainment, with music, skits and dances with sermons that are like drinking
warm milk that will only help them go to sleep.

But didn’t Jesus teach numerous
of stories? Jesus only started to speak stories and parables because the nation
of Israel rejected him as the Messiah. He did not start off his ministry with
stories but with explaining the meaning of the Scripture from which they had
strayed from. He often stated “have you not read,” “it is written,” “For I say
to you,” etc. Once Israel’s leadership had blasphemed the Holy Spirit Jesus
would almost always have a parable to accompany His teaching. It was not a good
thing but a judgment in which He hid the spiritual meaning of the story from
those who did not have ears to hear and made it more clear to those who were
following the truth.

Of course Bible verses are
still used in these sermons (mostly principles), but these are an added content
to a message that is not based on or out of the Scripture. This changes the
whole substance of the message. The more alienated we are to Scripture teaching
of verse upon verse the more we become susceptible to trends. We wait for the
newest idea, the newest method that will help enhance our spirituality. We are
convinced what worked before does not work for today. We need something
different, fresh for our times; the people, fashions and culture have changed.
New books, new seminars on the newest concepts. We are excited thinking where is
God taking the church. The fact is, it is not God taking us anywhere, He has
been pointing to where He has always been and where He wants us to be, in the
WORD.

Paul wrote to Titus, a
Greek convert who he appointed to set elders in the churches established in
Crete.“Holding fast the faithful word
as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort
and convict those who contradict” (Titus 1:9).

He likewise mentions in
Philippians 2:15-16: “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of
God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom
you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that
I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in
vain.”

The Greek word for holding
fast is epecho, it means to hold upon, i.e. to retain; to pay
attention to. In Titus 1:9 when Paul mentions “holding fast the faithful
word” the Greek word is antechomai – it is more active and intense, it
means to hold oneself opposite to, or against, hold back, withstand, to keep
oneself directly opposite to anyone, hold to him firmly, cleave to, paying heed
to him (the Lord by His word).

Holding fast the word is
someone who is Bible based, sound in his understanding of what the Scripture
says and does not say. He understands what God has said as God’s word is living
and active today just as it was when it was spoken or written.“As he has been taught” the Greek means “According to
the teaching.” Meaning they received the truth for some time and are trained
up in it. There are some people that know the truth, but need encouragement to
continue in it, others are ignorant and unintentionally oppose it. Then there
are some who intentionally align themselves AGAINST the truth with full
knowledge they are not esteeming God’s written
word.

Titus is told, “Exhort”
(convict)- who? Those who contradict the word- the gainsayers (v.10). They are
to actively refute the objections and defend the truth.

If you are firm in your belief
of the doctrines of the Christian faith, you can be relied on to maintain and
defend those doctrines. You can be expected to withstand those in opposition
because you have become familiar and digested the faithful
word.

2 Thess. 2:15: “Therefore,
brethren, stand fast, (holding fast) and hold the traditions which ye have been
taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” Hold or stand fast is the Greek
word steko, a perfect tense meaning to be stationary, to persevere: in
other words we are not to be moved. Those who continue in sound doctrine have
not moved from what they were taught, it is those who do not teach sound
doctrine that have moved from where they once were.

Convince- Greek
(elengchein) “convict.” We are to both exhort and to convince those who
contradict. To persuade them and bring them over to God’s correct view by using
kind exhortation, and by instruction that will convince them they are wrong and
this is what is meant. We convince by the truth and we know they are of us if
they are willing to hear and seek the truth. However, if they do not listen and
are contentious then we must take the next step.

By “Sound” doctrine (Greek:
hugiaino) means healthy, like the saying, “sound advice,” to be uncorrupt
(true in doctrine). A church becomes unhealthy not because the gifts are not
being used but because of no sound doctrine being consistently taught. This is
our problem today. To be healthy means we are growing to maturity, we are
growing in love, in grace, not being dysfunctional. If you are sound in doctrine
the gifts will flow out correctly. When we see people have an unbalanced
obsession with healing, miracles and rigorously pursue experiences it is because
they have not been taught sound doctrine. They have neglected to train
themselves in godliness that sound doctrine produces.

“The Faithful word” are the
true doctrines. This means that we are to hold this, in opposition to those who
would wrest it away, and in opposition to all false teachers we would
encounter.

Titus 1:10 “For there are many
insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the
circumcision” Paul calls them unruly- rebellious people, deceivers. These
are those that do not receive the sound doctrine, and are not willing to submit
to the authority of Scripture. They are ruled by their own opinions, not
Christ.

We find that THOSE WHO OPPOSE
SOUND DOCTRINE ARE: Proud 1Tim. 6:3-4; Ignorant 1 Tim. 6:4; Doting about
questions; 1Tim. 6:4; abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good
work Titus 1:16; Not to be received 2 John 1:10; To be avoided Rom 16:17; Not to
be endured by the saints 2 Tim. 4:3. Do you do this? Do you separate, withstand
or expose those who contradict the truth and shipwreck people? Jesus said you
are either for me or against me. Consider what the apostles did when they found
false teachers or teaching surfacing or influencing a church. They wrote about
it, they named names if necessary, they were actively withstanding the
influence. Today we are more concerned with a false teachers feelings than we
are with those being harmed by their falsehood. The truth and the power to bring
correction are put aside and we argue over so and so’s reputation and make
excuses like “ he’s done so much good,” or “look at all the people that attend
his meetings.” This didn’t stop Paul from rebuking Peter when he compromised on
the gospel when eating with the gentiles (Galatians 2:11-14). Because of his
compromise he influenced others even Barnabas who traveled with Paul and knew
better. Of course Peter could have been prideful and said to Paul I was
following Jesus before you even believed, he appointed me to be the leader of
the apostles, he personally instructed me. But Peter humbled himself and was
willing to repent. All was fine between him and Paul afterwards, for he
compliments Paul and says “Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave
him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these
matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which
ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to
their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be
on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of evil (lawless)
men and fall from your secure position” (2 Peter 3: 15-17). He calls those
who persist in these teachings not from Scripture as EVIL men. That is a word we
don’t use these days-evil. But that is what Peter calls those who twist the
Scripture and do not want to be corrected.

The fundamentals doctrines are
simple and plain. These are the ABC’s of Christianity; the 1-2-3’s of math.
These are the things we use daily in our lives, and to witness to others. But
there are some deep things that are for our personal spiritual growth (that
would be like algebra), these we may never use in speaking to others. Notice
that even Peter says of Paul’s writings that some things are hard to understand.
Not everything is simple. Yet Peter cautions us to not be removed and deceived
by wicked men who have become teachers that do not understand these things in
Scripture.

1 Corinthians 11:18-19 says,
“For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that
divisions (heresies) exist among you; and in part, I believe it. For there
must also be heresies among you, in order thatthose who are approved
may have become evident among you.” We find those who stand in the truth by
their resistance to the false. They test what is said, and it becomes evident
who agrees with the word. This gives approval to those who correct in doctrine
and helps us identify whom we are to separate from that are wrong in doctrine
(Romans 16:17). But you can only do this if you are well trained. Those who
argue against all sensibilities show their immaturity. They are unable to
distinguish what is good and of God and what is evil that opposes God. Hebrews
5:13-14 gives us the reason for this: “For everyone who partakes only of milk
is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food
belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have
their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” If someone cannot see
a teacher is off on the fundamentals when they are shown the problem they are
unable to receive from Scripture, they have not been trained by the
word.

He admonishes us1 Tim 4:16:
“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing
this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” If you are not
continuing in the apostles teaching found in Scripture then how can you save
anyone else, you will also be shipwrecked.

The Church began “And they
continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Notice what came first, not
food, not fellowship not prayer- TEACHING.

The transition of the Old
Testament covenant to the new is through the teaching of the apostles- that’s
our doctrine. John wrote “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you
– The apostles made it known by the Scripture- we can share in the same
revelation, knowledge and grace that they did. (2 John 1:9). The repeated
emphasis on “sound” or “healthy doctrine” (1Tim 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim.1:13; 4:3;
Titus 1:9; 2:1), “good doctrine” (1 Tim. 5:22) throughout the New Testament
implies that a body of teaching has emerged by the appointed apostles. The faith
has been delivered once to all the saints. This has become the body of truth
(Jude 1:3). The apostles had a teaching/ equipping ministry to the church. The
teaching ministry is about explaining Christ and answering people’s
questions.

Many want to be a Christian
without the confines of doctrine explicitly or implicitly stated in the New
Testament. The theological implications of this separation is nothing short of
disastrous, because it makes the church into a liberal organization that has no
roots in the original church started by the apostles. The Pastoral and General
Epistles are the revelation based on the new covenant of grace and are
instructions on how to conduct ourselves until Jesus Christ comes again. They
are to be continually taught to each succeeding generation.” The things that
you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who
will be able to teach others also”(2 Timothy 2:2).

John wrote, “Whosoever
transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God” – If
someone is consistently going beyond the words of Scripture or abandons the
doctrine which Christ taught, or what the apostles wrote respecting Him they are
not in Christ.

Doctrine is like the lines on
the road. People who do not stay in their lane or do not pay attention to the
signs or stoplights are like those who make up their own doctrine. They can
hurt, or destroy themselves and others.

The New Testament focuses
on the teaching ministry more than any other facet. Because we learn by
communication- by seeing and hearing. It must be done but someone who has proven
to have studied and learned, not a novice. Too many times a church puts in
anyone into ministry because they have a zeal and willing to do work. Its been
said that less than 10% of the church does 100% of the work. This should not
excuse their finding anyone to work, what pastors need to do is begin to train
individuals who believe they are called for ministry, make it hard to see who
has endurance, willingness and the fortitude to actually be in leadership as a
servant to the people. They will know who is called by those who persevere in
the hardships of the discipleship process. He that abides in the doctrine of
Christ - In the true teachings of Christ they will grow
spiritually.

More often people depart from
the truth because they did not have sound doctrine as their basis, so their
living become affected. We preach with our life but not our life only, words
need to be spoken.

Paul wrote in Phil. 3:15-17
“Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything
you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the
degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule let us be
of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so
walk, as you have us for a pattern.”

Mature in what? The teachings,
in Christ and the spiritually minded all walk by the same rule. When you find
someone who is not willing to hear about their being wrong or open to
discussion, they are prideful. If they are in leadership, they are turning into
a cult. Paul says to look the apostles as the model for
ministry.

So how do we avoid this from
happening to us? 1 Timothy 4:6 Paul writes for us to be “nourished in the words
of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.” The
Greek word for carefully is parakoloutheo- to follow one as to be always
at his side; to accompany; to follow up a thing in mind so as to attain to the
knowledge of it to understand, and to follow faithfully, that is, a standard or
rule, to conform oneself to. How careful are we in doing what we hear. “You
obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered”(Romans
6:17). Doctrine is our guideline that educates and trains us to obey God so we
can do His will and have His blessings.

Gresham Machen wrote “The
growth of ignorance in the Church is the logical and inevitable result of the
false notion that Christianity is a life and not also a doctrine; if
Christianity is not a doctrine then of course teaching is not necessary to
Christianity. But whatever the causes for the growth of ignorance in the Church,
the evil must be remedied…Christian education is the chief business of the hour
for every earnest Christian man. Christianity cannot subsist unless men know
what Christianity is” (Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism p.
176-177).

Doctrine teaches us how to
live, practice a spiritual life, worship and serve our God. 2 Tim. 3:16: “All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”what
for--v.17: “So that the man of God may be complete, trained and made ready
(furnished) for every good work.”

Doctrine may be a word that has
repelled many people but without teaching we have no true knowledge of God or a
relationship that will be sustained by the truth. Often times the Bible uses
symbols or metaphors for people, one of them are plants-trees. A tree needs good
soil, water, sun and nutrients to grow straight and strong so it can PRODUCE
FRUIT. The Bible uses the word of God symbolically as water and bread for our
spirit. If we are removed from this nourishment, we participate in self-
starvation.

Paul continues to tell Titus
“whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things
which they ought not, for filthy lucere's sake” (Titus 1:10-11). Paul says
they teach what no one should hear for the money and because of this they MUST
(imperative) be stopped. If we say we love Jesus we should show it by separating
from the false teachers, not embrace them. We should not be silent as we watch
our friends being influenced in. We show our love for the Lord by our obedience
to His word and our willingness to help others. That is what sound doctrine will
prompt you to do.